Tucumán
This is the smallest
Argentine province, which is known as the “Garden
of the Republic” owing to the richness of
its flora. Tucuman keeps the vestiges of its colonial
history intact. It was here where in 1816 Argentine
independence was declared. Tucuman’s landscapes
range from green sugar cane fields to a subtropical
jungle. As you go up the Quebrada de los Sosas
–on the west- the scenery becomes arid until
you reach the picturesque Tafi del Valle village,
at the foot of the awe-inspiring Sierra del Aconquija.
Going further west, on the Andes mountain range,
the fortified citadel built by the Quilmes (last
aborigines who resisted the Spanish invasion)
can be found.
Salta
Salta city is the one that contains the highest
number of colonial traces in the whole country.
Among the most representative buildings the most
imponent one is the baroque cathedral together
with other churches such as San Francisco ( red
) , the Carmelite convent and the Cabildo-colonial
city hall. Salta is the starting point from the
world-wide well-known Tren a las Nubes- Train
to the clouds- whose route among tunnels goes
up the Andes up to 4220 metres in San Antonio
de los Cobres. The Calchaquí Valleys, Cafayate
( main viticultural center in the North) , colorful
hills, small towns lost in history such as Cachi,
Molinos and Iruya are Salta’s most striking
attractions.
Jujuy
This is the northernmost province in Argentina,
limiting with Bolivia. This is a high plains place
where multi-colored hills frame little towns which
are full of white, sun-dried bricked houses and
historic chapels together with charming spots
such as Purmamarca, the seven-color hill (el Cerro
de los 7 Colores), Maimará, Tilcara y Humahuaca,
as well as the pre-hispanic ruins of Pucará
de Tilcara; all this surrounded by the Quebrada
de Humahuaca ( Patrimony of Humanity ). This was
the entrance door to the country, first receiving
Incaic people, then Spanish ones and later on
becoming the stage to Argentina’s Independence
wars. The colorful hilly landscape mingles with
the great Puna salt mines (altiplanicie andina)
and the mighty rivers which go down the Andes.
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